Truth & Tidings Magazine

Stilling the Storm

Have you ever heard “Shhh!! I just want some peace and quiet”? Maybe you’re longing for a vacation away from the busyness of life and away from the hectic, mundane tasks that you do each day. Yes, life is hectic, and these are just a few indicators of such a problem. Have you done something in your life that has continued to bother you and work on your conscience day by day? All of us have sinned. God says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). All these things are indicators that life is tumultuous and without peace.

I wonder if you long for peace? This story from the Bible shows us that God is the giver of peace, and He is able to calm your heart with assurance for eternity.

The Raging Sea

One day the Lord Jesus and His disciples needed to cross the Sea of Galilee. The journey wouldn’t be long, but long enough for Jesus to get some much needed sleep. Then a storm comes. It likely blew up suddenly as many storms can on a large body of water. Even though they were men of the sea, (some of them had been fishermen and knew what the sea was like), the storm caused many anxious thoughts. So, they went to Jesus, and woke Him with their cries for help: “Master, Master, we perish.” This word “perish” is the same word used about our spiritual danger as sinners. I wonder whether your sin has bothered you, whether you have ever been convicted of the fact that you too are perishing. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). These verses teach us that sin results in death. This should cause anxious thoughts in your soul, as it did for me many times before I finally trusted Christ.

The Miraculous Calm

In the story we find that Jesus wakes up from His sleep and rebukes the wind and the raging water. It says “and they ceased, and there was a calm.” Amazingly, in a moment the wind was gone, and the water was calm! I have never seen any body of water go from crashing waves to complete calm. This was a miracle that only God could do. How did He do it? He spoke. He spoke the elements into existence and with the same authority commands them to be calm. Are you troubled by your sins? The gospel news is wonderful! Once a person is justified by faith in Christ, he has “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). How can you get this peace? Read these words carefully: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isa 53:5). Jesus died so that all people can enjoy the peace that He offers for free. Our sins deserve punishment, but “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1Pet 3:18). We are unjust before God, but Jesus is the Just One. You can have this peace with God today. Accept Christ and, I know from experience, He will “never cast you out” (John 6:37).